Main RitualPrathamashtami is one of the most popular festivals of
Orissa, peculiar to the region. This is the eighth day in the month of
Margasira in which the eldest child of the family is honoured. He or she is
given new clothes and is made to sit on a wooden pedestal ('Pidha').

In front of him/her an earthen pitcher, full
of water is placed on handfuls of paddy. Above it a branch of mango leaves and
a cocoanut is placed. Then, the mother or any other elderly lady wishes him
/her long-life and good health by praying "Sasthi Debi" or Devi, the Goddess
that protects children.

Social Significance
The social significance of this festival is that the first-borns are brighter
and it is ultimately they who take up the burden of the family after the death
of the parents. According to psychologists the first-borns are mostly healthy,
obedient and tradition-bound. Therefore, the family tradition is maintained
through them. For such obvious reasons the eldest child is honoured to occupy
the respectable place in the family after the death of the parents.

A special variety of cake is prepared on this
occasion, which is known as 'Enduri'. The cake is offered to the Goddess of
Sasthi and then taken by all.

In the temple of Lingaraja at Bhubaneswar, the
festival is observed with great devotion. On this day the representative deity
of Lingaraja is taken out in a palanquin to a tank called "Papanasini", which
is situated just behind the temple.